Poverty in Virginia is on the rise again because more and more people are out of work. Among the hardest hit are Virginia's children as more adults around the state lose their jobs.

In fact, one study shows poverty stricken children are 13 times more likely to remain in poverty than adults, versus those who are not. A report by The Commonwealth Institute shows Virginia's poverty on the rise.

Harrisonburg alone has a poverty rate of more than 25 percent. By the end of the year, more than 200,000 people could be living in poverty in the Commonwealth.

Requests for food stamps are up, which shows a greater need for public assistance around the state.

Michael Cassidy, executive director of the Commonwealth Institute, says, "These challenges where these social safety net system, food stamps, unemployment insurance, local free clinics, those providers will be pressed for delivering more services to more needy people at the very time that their own budgets are being cut."

Still there may be some hope ahead in the form of funding from the state and the stimulus package. The stimulus package may keep unemployment rates low and state funding may help keep social services running.